DWP estimates there are also more than 700,000 pensioners entitled to Pension Credit, worth more than £4,000 a year.
The latest statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions show the State Pension currently provides a regular financial income for over 13 million older people across the country, including more than one million retirees living in Scotland.
This payment is available for those who have reached the UK Government’s eligible retirement age, which has now started a phased rise from 66 to 67 for both men and women, and have paid at least 10 years' worth of National Insurance contributions. However, people over 80 who have no Basic State Pension income or have a weekly income of less than £110.75 each week, could be due extra money to help them with daily living expenses.
The ‘Over 80 Pension’ currently gives older people £110.75 each week if they are receiving no Basic State Pension, or makes up the difference to that amount. People over 80 on a low income may also be eligible for Pension Credit , which could provide more than £4,300 in extra financial support over the 2026/27 financial year.
It’s important to be aware you cannot get the ‘Over 80 Pension’ if you reached State Pension age on or after April 6, 2016 - if you have, you are eligible for the New State Pension.
The guidance on GOV.uk states you can claim the over 80 pension if all of the following apply: You are 80 or over You do not get Basic State Pension or your Basic State Pension is less than £110.75 a week You were resident in the UK for at least 10 years out of 20 - this 20 year period must include the day before you turned 80 or any day after You were ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, the Isle of Man or Gibraltar on your 80th birthday or the date you made the claim for this pension, if later If you live in or are moving to a European Economic Area country or Switzerland, find out about pensions and benefits for UK nationals in the EU, EEA and Switzerland on GOV.
UK here. Your eligibility for the over 80 pension is not based on National Insurance contributions. You can get a claim form from either: your local Jobcentre Plus the Pension Service The earliest you can claim is three months before your 80th birthday. You can get a claim form sent to you from the Pension Service by calling 0800 731 7898.
Full details on GOV. UK here. Nearly 1.4m older people across Great Britain, including more than 125,000 living in Scotland, are currently receiving the means-tested benefit that could provide an average of £4,300 in support during the year ahead.
However, the latest figures from the DWP suggest there are still over 700,000 eligible pensioners not claiming the benefit they are entitled to. Some older people think because they have savings or own their home they would not be eligible for the means-tested benefit, which can also provide access to help with housing costs, winter heating help and Council Tax. An award of just £1 per week is enough to unlock other support.
Pension Credit tops up weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level of £238.00 a week for single pensioners or £363.25 for couples. It is a tax-free payment for those who: have reached Pension Credit qualifying age, which is State Pension age, and live in Great Britain Older people, or friends and family, can quickly check their eligibility and get an estimate of what they may receive by using the online Pension Credit calculator on GOV. UK here.
Alternatively, pensioners can contact the Pension Credit helpline directly to make a claim on 0800 99 1234 - lines are open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Expert help and advice is also available from: Independent Age Income Max Citizens Advice Age UK Pension Credit gives people extra money to help with their living costs if they are over State Pension age and on a low income. It can also provide access to a range of other benefits.
The benefit tops up income to a minimum of £238.00 per week for single pensioners and £363.25 for couples - more if a person has a disability or caring responsibilities.
If you qualify for Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as: Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in Council Tax discount Free TV licence if you are aged 75 or over Help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments Help with your heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme and access to the higher rates of Pension Age Winter Heating Payment A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house In May 2019, the law changed so a ‘mixed age couple’ - a couple where one partner is of State Pension age and the other is under it - are considered to be a ‘working age’ couple when checking entitlement to means-tested benefits.
This means they cannot claim Pension Credit or pension age Housing Benefit until they are both State Pension age. Before this DWP change, a mixed age couple could be eligible to claim the more generous State Pension age benefits when just one of them reached State Pension age. To use the calculator on GOV. UK , you will need details of: earnings, benefits and pensions savings and investments You’ll need the same details for your partner if you have one.
You will be presented by a series of questions with multiple choice answer options. This includes: Your date of birth Your residential status Where in the UK you live Whether you are registered blind Which benefits you currently receive How much you receive each week for any benefits you get Whether someone is paid Carer’s Allowance to look after you How much you get each week from pensions - State Pension, private and work pensions Any employment earnings Any savings, investments or bonds you have Once you have answered these questions, a summary screen shows your responses, allowing you to go back and change any answers before submitting.
The Pension Credit calculator then displays how much benefit you could receive each week. All you have to do then is follow the link to the application page to find out exactly what you will get from the DWP, including access to other financial support. There’s also an option to print off the answers you give using the calculator tool to help you complete the application form quicker without having to look out the same details again.
Try the Pension Credit Calculator for yourself or your family member to make sure you’re receiving all the financial support you are entitled to claim. You cannot use the calculator if you or your partner: are deferring your State Pension own more than one property are self employed have housing costs which are neither mortgage repayments nor rent covered by Housing Benefit You can start your application up to four months before you reach State Pension age.
You can claim any time after you reach State Pension age but your claim can only be backdated for three months. This means you can get up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.
You will need: your National Insurance number information about your income, savings and investments your bank account details, if you’re applying by phone or by post If you’re backdating your claim, you’ll need details of your income, savings and investments on the date you want your claim to start. You can use the online service if: you have already claimed your State Pension there are no children or young people included in your claim To check your entitlement, phone the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234 or use the GOV.
UK Pension Credit calculator here to find out how much you could get.
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